Ukraine鈥檚 Zelensky: Our partners have eased up on sanctions on Russia

This handout photograph taken and released by the Ukrainian Presidential press service on September 8, 2023, shows President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky speaking during the 18th meeting of the Yalta European Strategy 鈥淭he Future is Decided in Ukraine鈥� in Kyiv. (AFP)
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  • 鈥淎t this time, we see too long a pause by our partners in terms of sanctions,鈥� he said in his nightly video address
  • Zelensky said keeping the pressure on Moscow should focus on Russia鈥檚 energy sector

KYIV: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Friday that his country鈥檚 allies had eased sanctions on Russia and called for a renewed drive to impose further punitive measures on Moscow.
鈥淎t this time, we see too long a pause by our partners in terms of sanctions,鈥� he said in his nightly video address. 鈥淎nd very active Russian attempts to evade sanctions.鈥�
Zelensky said keeping the pressure on Moscow should focus on Russia鈥檚 energy sector, its access to microelectronics and its financial sector.
鈥淭here are three priorities: further sanctions against Russia鈥檚 energy sector, real restrictions on the supplies going to the terrorists of chips and microelectronics in general and continued blocking of Russia鈥檚 financial sector,鈥� he said.
鈥淭he world鈥檚 sanctions offensive must resume.鈥�
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oleg Nikolenko had earlier said Ukraine rejected any suggestion of easing sanctions against Russia as part of efforts to restore the UN-backed agreement to ship grain through the Black Sea.
鈥淓asing part of the sanctions regime against Russia in exchange for the resumption of the grain agreement would be a victory for Russian food blackmail and an invitation to Moscow for new waves of blackmail,鈥� Nikolenko wrote on Facebook.